District IV—Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, North Carolina, Virginia
Vice President
jaymarsh@ama-d4.org
3227 Pine Needles Rd., High Point NC 27265
Tel.: (336) 687-0973; www.amadistrict-iv.org
www.facebook.com/amadistrictIV
District IV needs a government relations coordinator. This position is not to work with the FAA, but to work with individual states trying to write egregious laws potentially affecting our right to fly. We need an individual to work in conjunction with the AMA, monitoring and reacting to state legislation in the district. If you have some knowledge of how state legislation works, please volunteer for this most important position. Send me an email at jaymarsh@ama-d4.org.
AMA Staff Director Joyce Hager and I represented the AMA at the 2015 National Maker Faire and RoboFest 2015 in Washington, D.C. The AMA is well respected and sought after for our knowledge and safety involving model aircraft, regardless of the type. Be proud of the organization you belong to. The AMA is representing you well.
Liberty, North Carolina, will soon be the mecca of Pylon Racing in the country. Mike Langlois’s vision of the perfect racing site will be realized on his new property at the Old Julian Airport field. Construction is moving quickly on this fantastic facility that will be complete with a large, paved runway, race start pad, fully reversible course setup, indoor toilets and showers, and many other amenities that will make this one remarkable place for RC Pylon Racing.
But wait, there’s more. I just got back from Carmichaels, Pennsylvania, after attending Brodak Fly-In 2015, and what an event it was. This is Control Line (CL) folks—the largest CL event in the country, and even larger than the Nats.
After Brodak Fly-In 2016, the event’s 20th anniversary, arrangements have been made for John Brodak to retire and permanently move the Brodak Fly-In to Old Julian Airport beginning in 2017. Mike and Steven Langlois agreed to the district creating a CL field on the property, adding to this impressive event-only field.
Brodak Fly-In 2015 had 135 pilots registered in 17 events, and made more than 600 flights in all classes. There were participants from as far away as Japan and Canada. Plenty of flying went on during the week. Although the weather didn’t fully cooperate with thunderstorms, wind, and a hot sun, everyone had a great time.
There are many traditions at Brodak, and I hope to bring them all to you. This is truly a family affair with parents and children attending. One of these traditions is Junkyard Wars. Each team is given a wooden orange crate and has 30 minutes to build a flying Control Line airplane, which then has to fly around the circle for at least 10 laps. The kids really get into it.
This year Team Absurd was entered, all dressing up in clown outfits. It took two attempts, but their airplane was successful, taking second place.
There are some real craftsmen flying CL, too. Look closely at the Disney’s Planes characters created by Pete Klepsic.
The Old Julian Airport is going to become one of the premier fields in District IV, hosting a variety of events in the future. The 2015 National Miniature Pylon Racing Association’s National Championships are being held here to initiate the field on October 3-4, 2015. Plan to attend the inaugural event at the new Old Julian Airport. See www.oldjulianairport.org for more information.
Go fly and have fun safely.
